Why Puppy Classes May Not Be the Best Choice (And What Works Better)
When you bring a new puppy into your home, you want the best start for them… including finding the right puppy training or puppy class! It’s natural to think a class just for puppies will help your little one learn, socialise, and grow confident. However, at ASCENDK9, we’ve found that integrating puppies into mixed-age dog training classes provides a far richer, more balanced experience that sets them up for lifelong success.
In this post, we’ll explore why traditional puppy-only classes might not always be the best fit, how mixing ages benefits your pup’s development, and how our tailored RISE:BASE group obedience class is designed to support dogs of all ages and stages - including puppies.
Less chaos, more connection.
Why Puppy-Only Classes Aren’t Always Ideal
Puppy-only classes often focus heavily on play and socialisation, which certainly has its place in a young dog’s development. However, when these sessions encourage a free-for-all puppy “playtime” approach, they can sometimes do more harm than good.
The Risk of Overstimulation and Anxiety
Puppies are naturally excitable, curious, and prone to being overwhelmed. Unstructured play with lots of other puppies can quickly become overstimulating, pushing some pups into fear, stress, or reactive behaviours. Research shows that overstimulation in early life may contribute to anxiety and reactivity later on (Dogs Trust).
Limited Real-World Preparation
Puppy-only classes rarely expose young dogs to the range of ages, sizes, and energy levels they will encounter throughout their life. This can leave them unprepared for real-life social encounters with older dogs or different situations where confidence and impulse control are key.
Puppy play without structure can spark anxiety.
The Benefits of Mixed-Age Dog Training Classes
At ASCENDK9, we’ve adopted a different approach. Instead of segregating puppies into separate groups, we integrate them into mixed-age classes - like our RISE:BASE group obedience class, where they can learn alongside dogs of all ages.
Learning from Role Models
Older, well-trained dogs provide calm, clear examples for puppies to observe and imitate. This social learning is invaluable in helping your puppy develop better manners and confidence. Puppies often learn more from watching mature dogs than from playing with their own kind.
Exposure to Real-Life Situations
Dogs live in a world full of different ages, personalities, and distractions. By mixing ages in class, puppies experience a realistic range of social scenarios, helping them to build emotional resilience and adaptability. This better prepares them for life outside the training field.
Tailored to All Levels
Our group classes aren’t “one-size-fits-all.” Every session is carefully tailored to the dogs attending - whether they’re playful puppies, focused adults, or dogs working through reactivity challenges. This means your puppy will always be working on skills appropriate to their stage, while also benefiting from the company and structure of a mixed group.
Mixed-age classes build real-world confidence.
What Makes Our Obedience Class Different?
RISE:BASE is our flagship group obedience class designed for dogs of all ages and training levels. Here’s how it works:
Structured Sessions: Each class includes a mix of engagement, obedience, confidence-building, and impulse control activities.
Tailored Training: Exercises are adapted for each dog’s ability - puppies receive the right level of challenge without being overwhelmed.
Focus on Mindset: We prioritise emotional regulation and confidence, not just commands. This mindset foundation leads to lasting behaviour change.
Real-Life Skills: Dogs learn to respond reliably around distractions including other dogs, people, and noises.
Supportive Environment: We’ve built a supportive client community, where all owners can share experiences and learn together.
What Does the Science Say?
A study published by the Kennel Club found that puppies socialised with a range of dogs and environments in their early months showed fewer behavioural problems in adulthood (The Kennel Club - Puppy Socialisation).
Research also supports the idea that controlled, positive exposure (rather than unstructured play) builds resilience and reduces anxiety (Dogs Trust - Puppy Training and Socialisation).
Studies show that dogs trained with a focus on emotional wellbeing alongside obedience perform better in everyday situations (Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors).
Healthy socialisation starts with balance.
Learn More and Take the Next Step
If you’re searching for puppy training or a dog training school that focuses on real-life skills, confidence, and emotional wellbeing, our RISE:BASE group obedience class welcomes puppies and dogs of all ages, providing a tailored and supportive experience.
For more on training mindset and social confidence, check out our blog posts: